Spring switch box



Sept. 3, 19 I T. A. GERLACH SPRING SWITCH BOX Filed May 28, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l 'Q zz q 23222! /2 Sept. 3, 1929. T. A. GERLACH 1,726,819

SPRING SWITCH BOX Filed May 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet '2,

Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. GERLACH, OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS.

SPRING SWITCH BOX.

Application filed. May 28,

My invention relates to spring switches, and more particularly toreversible spring throws and switch locks for tongue switches.

One of the objects of this invention is to simplify the construct-ionthereof so that the parts can be readily taken out and replaced whennecessary.

Frequent inspection is usually necessary on these devices, since theyare exposed to the 1 mud and ice and are generally not mounted inwater-tight boxes. This makes it necessary to provide a device which isreadily accessible, and where the traflic is heavy to so construct thedevice that the parts thereof may be withdrawn and replaced easily.

My invention contemplates the provision of a device of this charactersimilar to that shown in my prior Patent No. 995,341, issued June 18,1911, with certain improvements whereby the devicemay be more readilyused as an anti-kicker.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which the switch may bev thrown by the use of an operatinghandle, generally carried by the motorman of the car, without removingthe cover of the mechanism. and without the use of any great amount offorce. This is due to the fact that in this device when the motormanthrows the switch his efforts are not used in compressing the spring.

A further and more particular purpose of the invention is to-provide adevice of this character in which all the parts can be taken apart andput together without the necessity of turning a single screw or bolt andin which the parts are held in place by each other and by the cover.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds, in connection with the following drawings, inwhich one form of my invention is shown. However, it is to be distinctlyunderstood that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact detailsshown and described, but that I may avail myself of all suchmodifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing my device asapplied to a tongue switch;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 3'is a section on the line 3-3of Fig. 4; and

1928. Serial No. 281,322.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 3, with the operating memberin a slightly 65 different position. Iteferring now in detail to thedrawings, in Fig. 1, I show two rails 5 and 6 and a switch tongue 7,which through the agency of the connecting rod 8 is designed to beoperated by my spring throw or switch lock device. This device ismounted in a casing 9 having the cover 10 fitting down within the topthereof and resting upon the ledges 11, 12 and 13.

Within the casing 9 there are provided bearings 14 and 15 which are castintegral with the casing and extend upwardly from the bottom thereof toprovide a bearing for a sliding member 16, which forms one of the springholding devices of the mechanism. The member 16, as shown, is turned upat its end and slotted, as at 17 to receive the end of the connectingrod 8, which is provided with a pair of projections fitting on oppositesides of the upturned end of the member 16.

The bearings 14 and 15 are semicircular, so that the member 16 may berotated through substantially one hundred and eighty degrees when it isdesired to remove the same from the connecting rod 8.

Another spring member 18 co-operates wit the member 16 to form a housingfor the spring 19, and these two members, as shown in Fig. 2, areprovided with interfitting portions 20 and 21, adjacent the oppositeends thereof, which engage the spring, so that movement of either of themembers 16 and 18 relative to the other effects a compression of thespring. This construction is so far substantially the same as that in myprior patent hereinbefore mentioned.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 also that the member 18 is guided, by meansof the wings or projections 22, 22, between a plurality of projections23 and 2 1 on one side wall of the casing and on the partition 25 whichextends 4 lengthwise of the casing.

In this manner the spring and the spring housing members 16 and 18 maybe mounted and held in place within the casing without the use of screwsor bolts. The member 18 has on the top thereof a projection 26 which isprovided with a slot 27 to receive the crank 28 in a manner similar tothat shown in my prior patent. This crank 28 has one end 29 seated in arecess 30 found in the side wall of the casing, and the other end of thecrank has a bearing provided by the slot 31 in the partition 25.

Thus, after the members 16 and 18 are in position with respect to thespring 19, the crank 28 may be put in position by dropping the free endof the crank into the slot 31 and then pushing the end 29 into therecess 30. The crank is provided, where it extends beyond the partition25, with a small pinion 32, by which the crank is adapted to be rotatedto move the spring member 18 and throw the switch. Cooperating with thegear 32 is the pivoted member 33 having the quadrant gear 34 thereon,which fits down over the pinion 32 and serves to rotate the pinion, asWell as to hold the crank down in its slot 31. Member 33 fits looselyupon the pin 35, which is referably a steel pin cast integral with theox or casing.

In assembling the device, after the crank has been placed in position ashereinbefore described, the member 33 is slid over the end of the pin 35so that the quadrant gear 34 engages with the pinion 32 in substantiallythe position shown in Fig. 4. As the member 33 fits loosely on the pin35, it would not remain in this position were it not for the cover 10.This cover as shown in Fig. 3, however, is provided with a slot 36, intowhich the upper portion of the member 33 projects, so that when themember 33 is mounted and the cover in position, the cover itself holdsthe member 33 from slipping off the pin 35. The cover is also cut away,as at 37 and 38, to accommodate the top of the quadrant gear 34 and thecrank, so as to save space and make a device of as small a depth aspossible. The cover has also cast integral therewith a depending lug 39,which extends down along the outer face of the member 33 to provide awide bearing surface that will hold the member 33 firmly in position andstrengthen the cover at this oint.

Thus it will be seen that the entire device is made up of parts whichare assembled in a certain order and each one of which is held in placeby the succeeding'part in the steps of assembly, so that when finallythe cover is placed in position all of the parts will be held in theirproper position without the use of any bolts or screws. Also, uponremoval of the cover, the parts may be readily taken apart and replacedwithout the use of any special tools, and this makes repairing easy.

However, if it is desired to use the device without a cover, a suitabledistance piece may be inserted between the member 33 and the side wallof the box to hold the member 33 on the pin 35.

how in operating the device to throw the switch, the motorman usually isprovided with an iron bar about three to four feet long, which is ofsuch size that it will fit in the recess 40 provided in the member 33and enable him to rock the member 33 in either direction he desires,which action will be communicated by means of the pinion 32 to the crank28, and through this crank and the spring box construction to theconnecting rod 8. The recess 40 at its lower end is opened out to theexterior of the member-33 as at 41 and 42 to prevent i'oreign matter ordirt from accumulating therein.

The gear teeth on the quadrant gear and pinion are preferably so madethat for the length of stroke permitted by the slot 36 the crank 28 willbe thrown through an angle of slightly more than one hundred and eightydegrees, so that in its resting position at either end the portion ofthe crank in the slot 26 will lie slightly below the center line of thebearings for the crank. This is done merely to cause the crank to have atendency to resist any pressure upon the member 16 from throwing it intoits opposite position, and serves as an effective locking device forholding the switch in whichever position it is moved by the motorman.

From the above description, it is thought the construction and operationof this device will be clear to those skilled in this art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spring box for switches having a spring and spring members, a crankassociated with one of said members and removably mounted in said box,and operating means for said crank removably mounted in said box andholding said crank in operative position Within said box.

2. A spring box for switches having a spring and spring members, a crankassociated with one of said members, bearings in said box in which saidcrank is removably mounted, and operating means for said crank holdingsaid crank in said bearings.

3. A spring box for switches having a spring and spring members, a crankassociated with one of said members, bearings in said box in which saidcrank is removably mounted, operating means for said crank holding saidcrank in said bearings, and a cover having means thereon for holdingsaid operating member in position.

4. A spring box for switches having a spring and spring members, a crankassociated with one of said members, hearings in said box in which saidcrank is removably mounted, operating means for said crank holding saidcrank in said bearings, and a cover having means thereon for holdingsaid operating member in position, said cover having an aperture thereinthrough which means may be inserted for moving said operating means.

5. A spring box for switches having a spring and spring members, a crankassociated with one of said members, operating means for said crank anda cover for said box, said cover holding said crank and operating meansin assembled position.

6. A spring box for switches having a spring and sprin members, a crankassociated With one 0? said members, operating means for said crank anda cover for said box, said cover holding said crank and operating meansin assembled position, said cover having an aperture therein permittingaccess to said operating means when the cover is in position.

7. A spring box for switches having a spring and spring members, a crankassociated with one of said members, bearings in said box in which saidcrank is mounted, a

pinion on said crank, and a member rockably mounted in said box andhaving a plurality of gear teeth thereon engaging said pinion to rocksaid crank.

8. A spring box for switches having a spring and spring members, a crankassociated with one of said members, bearings in said box in which saidcrank is mounted, a pinion on said crank, a member pivoted in said boxand holding said crank in its bearings, and gear teeth on said memberengaging with said pinion.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of May A.D., 1928.

THOMAS A. GERLACH.

